Playbooks
Cover 4 Palms is a zone coverage shell run out of the Big Dime 3-2-6 personnel in the Dollar 3-2 set, built to defend the pass with a two high safety look that rotates hard to the flat on the snap. The corners and safeties on each side execute a palms read (also called a 2 read) technique, meaning the flat defender squats on the number two receiver while the deep quarter defender reads through to number two for verticals before working outside to number one. Primary read progression for the user goes safety to number two receiver first to diagnose smash or corner route combos, then to the flat defender squeezing any speed out or hitch from number one, this is a zone beater against smash concepts and four verticals but it is vulnerable if you get lost peeking the backfield on run action.
Pre-snap, check safety depth and alignment, if both safeties are showing deep half with corners pressed outside, palms technique is live and the defense is set to attack number two receiver routes. Post-snap, key the number two receiver immediately off the ball, if he releases vertical the flat defender should sink and the safety should widen to help on any corner breaking route. Watch for the offense stacking or bunching receivers to one side, this is the primary trigger for smash concepts that this coverage is designed to jump. This shell is vulnerable to four verticals if your linebackers do not get immediate depth, so key linebacker drop timing to avoid the seam being exposed against trips or four wide sets. Beware of RPOs or play-action rollouts that attack the flat defender's run fit responsibility, since the palms technique asks that defender to read run before passing off to zone coverage, creating a window if the offense sells run convincingly.
Call this on early downs or third and medium when you expect the offense to attack the flat with a smash or spot concept since the palms read technique is designed to jump those routes.
Pre-snap, identify if the offense is in a stack or bunch look to the Big Dime 3-2-6 side since that alignment often signals a smash or flood concept that this coverage is built to counter.
Use your user controlled safety to widen and rob the corner route if you see a two receiver stack, then trust your zone defenders underneath to squeeze the flat.
Pair this call with Cover 4 Quarters or Cover 4 Drop Contain in the same set to disguise your coverage shell presnap and keep quarterbacks guessing between true quarters and palms technique.
Avoid calling this against heavy four verticals unless you are confident in linebacker range underneath since the seams can be exposed if your linebackers do not get depth quickly.